Guest announcer



July 28, 1936. J. w. BROWN GUEST ANN OUNC ER Filed May 2s,' 1931 ll'll' Patented July 28, 1936 PATENT OFFICE GUEST ANNOUNCER James W. Brown, Los Angeles, Cali|'., assignor to Carl 0. Nordensson, Buflalo, N. Y.

Application May 25, 1931, Serial No. 539,787

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in what I have chosen to term a guest announcer", the primary object being to provide simple and effective means for sounding in a more pleasing manner the arrival of a caller at the entrance of a dwelling or other place. A further object is the provision of a device of the class stated which is less expensive in construction than heretofore, thus tending to popularize a device which produces more pleasing effects. Further objects will be apparent from the following description.

To these ends my invention comprises the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimedi In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my invention, part of the structure being broken away and in section and the electric circuit being indicated diagrammatically, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1, part of the structure also being broken away and the electrical circuit not shown.

In the drawing A indicates a suitable base or back upon which the parts of my improved structure are mounted and B a suitable cover which may be ornamented as desired so as to produce an attractive configuration suitable for use in any dwelling or place, said structure being adapt- .ed to be fastened on the wall or otherwise stationed within hearing range of the occupants to announce the arrival of a guest or other person at an entrance. In'this structure is arranged a suitable sounding device which as shown consists of a pair or plurality of chime rods Hi and II, disposed vertically or otherwise at either side of the structure and rigidly secured respectively to the metallic head pieces I2 and I3, which are mounted at the upper end of the base A, by screws H or other suitable means. These chime rods l and II are 01' difierent lengths, each of them imparting a diflferent musical note when set in vibration by a striker to behereinatter described.

Arranged within the structure on a pinion or shaft I6 is a pendulum C, which is so balanced as to have a fairly long period of. oscillation, the

counter weights l6 and H on its upperand lower ends serving to augment this action and impart momentum thereto.

Attached to opposite sides of the pendulum C below the pinion I are two spring switch arms II and 19, carrying suitable contactpoints designed to make contact with suitable adjustable screw contacts 2| and 22 when the pendulum swings to either side of its normal position. .Also

suitably attached to one side of the pendulum above said pinion is an armature 23, In juxtaposition to said armature and secured rigidly to said base A is an electro magnet D which when energized serves to attract the armature 23 and draw the pendulum C overagainst stop pins 24 and 25, on the base, and hold it in said position as long as said electro magnet remains energized.

An electric circuit E, containing a spring switch 26; adapted-to be located at the entrance of a dwelling or in any other desired position, and receiving current from any suitable source such as 21, located at any desired distance from the device, contains the winding of the electro magnet D so as to energize the electro magnet when and as long as the switch remains closed. The switch 26 may be of the usual push button or any other type and the source of current may be the usual bell transformer receiving current from any power circuit. The circuit E is wired into the device through terminals 26 and 29.

The winding of the electro magnet D is in series with the winding of a solenoid F, in circuit E, which when energized draws up the plunger core 30, separating the contact of the core 30 with a stationary contact terminal 3|, and serving to open a branch circuit G, normally passing through the solenoidcore 30, flexible conductor 32 connected with the solenoid core and a fixed binding post 33 which'is connected with circuit E.

The striker consists of a solenoid H having two windings 35 and 36 containing a leather tipped core 31, which is free to play backward and forward through the solenoid, being disposed so as to alternately strike the chime rods l0 and II, when windings 35 and 36 are alternately energized. One end of each of the coils 35 and 36 is. connected with one side of the circuit E by the conductor 38 traversing a third terminal 33 on the base. The opposite end of coil 35 is connected by the conductor 40 with the pendulum contact 2| while the opposite end 01' coil 36 is connected by conductor 4| with the opposite pendulum corrtact 22.

In operation, when the circuit E is closed by the switch 26, current energizes electromagnet D and solenoid F, said magnet attracting armature 23 and holding the pendulum in energized position against the stops 24 and 26 while the switch remains closedand said solenoid opening the branch circuit G by raising the solenoid core 30 from contact with terminal 3|. When the switch 26 is released, that is opened, both electro magnet D and solenoid, 1" are deenergized, the

pendulum C is released and the core 30 closes branch circuit G throughcontact 3|. With this pendulum is so reduced as to fail to make connection between the spring contact elements II and I9 and the terminals 2| and 22. The length of period during which the sounding rods are successively struck by the striker core 31 may be varied through the adJustment of the screws 2| and 22. When the pendulum is released from magnet D, by opening of main circuit E, the coil 36 of solenoid H is energized and the striker core 31 plunges towards sounding rod The momentum of the striker core carries it beyond the point of maximum flux density of solenoid 38 so that it strikes sounding rod H, sounding a musical note. After striking, the plunger 31 rebounds to the position of maximum flux density of solenoid coil 35 and is held in the latter position clear of the vibrating rod Pendulum C then swings the opposite way, closing contacts 20 and 2|, allowing current to traverse the solenoid coil 35, causing plunger 31 to strike sounding rod In in the same manner. This alternate striking of the sounding rods continues in synchronism with the beat of the pendulum until the latter approaches at rest position, the number of strokes of the chime sounding being determined by contacts 2| and'22 which are adjusted so that sounding rod It will be the last note sounded, thus leaving the striker plunger 31 in readiness for future operation. The stop pins 24 and 25 prevent the armature 23 from making contact with the pole of magnet D, which with alternating current would cause a buzzing noise at this point.

The purpose of solenoid F is to allow the operation of the apparatus on a smaller transformer 21 than would be otherwise possible. The ordinary door bell transformer has a very limited current output and is incapable of operating both electromagnet D and solenoid H at the same time. When contacts 20 and 2| are closed as pendulum C swings in response to electromagnet D, the flow of current through the solenoid coil 35 would so weaken magnet D that said pendulum would tend to fall back into median position. As soon as contacts 20 and 2| are opened the pendulum is fully attracted and thus would move back and forth'on one side of median position as long as the switch 26 is closed. Solenoid F prevents this action by opening the circuit to solenoid H, the instant switch 20 is closed so that pendulum C is held in raised or superior position against stop pins 24 and 25 until switch 26 is released or opened.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described the principles of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof but I desire to have it understood that the construction shown is only illustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means and applied to uses other than those above set forth within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A sound producing device, comprising, in combination, a base member, a supporting member on said base member, a sounding rod suspended from each of the opposite ends of said supporting member, solenoid windings below said supporting member extending horizontally between said sounding rods and having substantially aligned axes, a solenoid core freely reciprocable and of such length relative to said windings as to be moved to one extreme position and strike one of said rods when only one winding is energized and to the other extreme position and strike the other of said rods when only the other winding is energized, a pendulum hung on said base member below said windings, a two way switch connected with said windings and actuated by the swinging movement of the pendulum to direct current alternately through said windings and cause said core to reciprocate, an electro 30 magnet having an actuating coil and armature associated with the pendulum below said solenoid windings and a switch controlled electric circuit connected with the coil of said electromagnet by which saidcoil is energized and the pendulum set in free swinging motion.

2. A sound producing device, comprising, in combination, a base having supporting means extending transversely thereof, sounding elements carried by the opposite end portions of said supporting means, striking means between said sounding elements comprising adjacently disposed solenoids having windings extending toward said sounding elements, a sounding rod striking core movable through said solenoid windings and of such length relative to said windings as to be moved to one extreme striking position only when one winding is energized and to the other extreme striking position when the other winding is energized, a pendulum poised on said base and associated with said windings, a source of electrical current, switching means connected with said windings and source of current, said switching means being associated with and actuated by the swinging movement of the pendulum to direct energizing current alternately through said windings and cause said core to reciprocate, and switch controlled means in proximity to the pendulum and connected with said source of current for w imparting swinging motion to the pendulum.

JALIES W. BROWN. 

